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What's your policy to borrowing gear?


wrig_

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My band's singer just called that they need an amplifier for her other band's rhodes player tonight. I suppose the guy's own amp has blown up or something like that because she didn't mention anything yesterday when I saw her. I told her that I could borrow my Trademark 60 but I really would rather not give them my '66 Fender Showman.

 

The Showman is the single most expensive & dearest peace of gear I have, so I really don't want to borrow it to anyone. On the other hand I somehow feel like an asshole considering that this other bands bass player has helped us many times when we've been in need of a bass amp..

 

How do you react to these kind of situations? Have you had problems after borrowing gear to friends/other bands?

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It is never good to be stingy. Just make sure that you have agreed to some type of terms. My band's policy is that we let people borrow what ever they want, but if it breaks you fix it. Doesn't matter if it is your fault, normal gear failure, or an act of God. You break it you fix or replace it. When everyone is on the same terms there is no need to be nervous. A lot of times if you explain how rare, important, or expensive to fix a piece of gear is people will not want to borrow it.

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Depends on who it is and what it is. I have 2-3 friends that could borrow anything. I'm soft hearted enough that if I thought someone needed it badly enough, I'd bring it to the gig myself and take it home myself, and only my "B" gear.

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It is never good to be stingy. Just make sure that you have agreed to some type of terms. My band's policy is that we let people borrow what ever they want, but if it breaks you fix it. Doesn't matter if it is your fault, normal gear failure, or an act of God. You break it you fix or replace it. When everyone is on the same terms there is no need to be nervous. A lot of times if you explain how rare, important, or expensive to fix a piece of gear is people will not want to borrow it.

 

 

but in most cases the bands at shows who ask to borrow, aren't really bands you know very well. so what happens IF something breaks during their set and they say "go F yourself" when you remind them of your agreement?

 

to me, if i don't know them very well, i'd prefer to avoid any kind of situation that potentially could put me at a loss.

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but in most cases the bands at shows who ask to borrow, aren't really bands you know very well. so what happens IF something breaks during their set and they say "go F yourself" when you remind them of your agreement?


to me, if i don't know them very well, i'd prefer to avoid any kind of situation that potentially could put me at a loss.

 

 

Unless they're kicking the {censored} out of your amp or doing anything out of the ordinary, I think it would be safe to say that your amp would've broken no matter what. I don't it would be right to ask them to front some money for something out of their hands.

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To further add to the thread.. would guys lend stuff out at a show you were already playing? Maybe the band before you have a problem with his head.. would you help them out and let them use yours?



did that once and my hiwatt is STILL {censored}ed up from all the {censored}ty music that was played thru it...my answer is still NO. :thu:

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did that once and my hiwatt is STILL {censored}ed up from all the {censored}ty music that was played thru it...my answer is still NO.
:thu:

 

Fair enough. I'd probably lend out anything if asked(at a show). It's not hard to keep an eye on them. There's usually a bat in the van if any "problems" should arise. ;)

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To further add to the thread.. would guys lend stuff out at a show you were already playing? Maybe the band before you have a problem with his head.. would you help them out and let them use yours?

 

 

I've done this and would do it again. I've also taken my gear to someone's recording session, hung around and taken it back and would do that again and done the same for a friend's gig and in the right circumstances, would do it again.

 

But in the conventional sense I don't lend gear.

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but in most cases the bands at shows who ask to borrow, aren't really bands you know very well. so what happens IF something breaks during their set and they say "go F yourself" when you remind them of your agreement?


to me, if i don't know them very well, i'd prefer to avoid any kind of situation that potentially could put me at a loss.

 

 

Definitely a good point. I guess you just have to use your judgement. I have been on the other side of the table many times and have appreciated people helping out when it is needed.

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To further add to the thread.. would guys lend stuff out at a show you were already playing? Maybe the band before you have a problem with his head.. would you help them out and let them use yours?

 

 

Of course... I've even let people use my guitar before when I knew the band. WHen I was playing out a lot we were all pretty young, no one could afford backup amps and usually a band only had one backup guitar. My bass amp quit once, I used someone else's...

 

Now lending out gear, that's a different story. It would have to be something I'm not super attached to (Line 6 amp, but not Road King) and someone I know pretty well.

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Unless they're kicking the {censored} out of your amp or doing anything out of the ordinary, I think it would be safe to say that your amp would've broken no matter what. I don't it would be right to ask them to front some money for something out of their hands.

 

 

just sayin i prefer to be protective. i've spent a lot of time and money on my gear, living close to the poverty line for most of my guitar-playing life because i'm always stretching my wallet to find what i'm looking for. which i've more or less found.

 

and to clarify i HAVE lent out my stuff to strangers, on occasion, at shows...and plenty of times to friends as well...but these days it's few and far between.

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Definitely a good point. I guess you just have to use your judgement. I have been on the other side of the table many times and have appreciated people helping out when it is needed.

 

 

Seriously. It can be a lifesaver. It can also help your reputation out quite a bit to be cool with lending gear. It give you more of a "nice guy" vibe.

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Most of my friends are gigging musicians, and I respect them. They play good music that I like. I've loaned my amp to a friend for a concert, and it came back in working condition. I would trust all my gear with all my friends, and I know they would trust me with theirs.

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Not even close friends are allowed. I've lent an amp once and it came back fried.

I dunno about you guys in here but I think that a lot of musicians are assholes to begin with. The place where we practice is less than a year old and the owner had brand new stuff at the beginning. In less than a year the drums have become worthless, drinks have been spilled many times on the amps and the footswitches look like they have been stamped flat by a truck.

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Personally, I usually have no problem with borrowing my amp for a band that's playing after or before us in the same show. Unless of course if the guitar player seems like a dick who can't handle other people's gear decently.

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